Job Description

Posting number: 2026SMD27769

Department: DPH - Public Health

Division: Prevention

Job classification: Education Specialist (C9A : PROTEC17-DPH, DCHS-Health Prof)

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Public Health, Health Education

Public Health – Seattle & King County is seeking four (4) short-term temporary (STT) Robert Clewis Center Education Specialists to join its innovative team! The Education Specialist will report to the Drug User Health Manager in the Robert Clewis Center. STT employees are at-will temporary employees and provide coverage for Robert Clewis Center shifts when career services employees are out sick or on vacation.

Background

The Robert Clewis Center provides syringe exchange, Naloxone distribution and health education and disease prevention information to persons who use drugs. This position works with a multi-disciplinary team that is responsible for daily operation of needle exchange services at one fixed site as well as van-based delivery services.

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

STT employees are at-will temporary employees and provide coverage for Robert Clewis Center shifts when career services employees are out sick or on vacation and will be on-call. The typical work schedule is a non-traditional schedule (e.g. weekdays, weeknights, weekend days, weekend nights and holidays). This position is subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible.

Work Location

The primary location for this position will be based at the Robert Clewis Center located at 2124 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Examples of duties

• Provide Harm Reduction services for needle exchange customers.
• Provide information and service referrals to outreach contacts, peer educators and needle exchange customers.
• Conduct street and van-based outreach to engage persons who inject drugs in targeted communities.
• Distribute accurate and culturally and linguistically appropriate education materials and information targeted to persons who use drugs.
• Train and provide on-going coaching and support for needle exchange customers on how to administer Naloxone.
• Stock and maintain exchange supplies.
• Ensure proper disposal of bio-hazardous waste.
• Collect Naloxone distribution data.
• Participate in administration of surveys to persons who inject drugs.
• Contribute to an environment that fosters open communication, teamwork, commitment to quality service, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience working in health, social service or related experience with persons who use drugs in a harm reduction setting.
• Demonstrated current knowledge of HIV/AIDS, STDs, hepatitis and other blood-borne infections, particularly in relation to injection drug use; street life; slang vocabularies; drug use practices; harm reduction concepts and principles; local drug treatment; health care; and criminal justice systems and resources.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word and Excel).
• Ability to work a non-traditional schedule (e.g. weekdays, weeknights, weekend days, weekend nights and holidays).
• Valid Washington State Driver's License and the ability to drive a county vehicle to locations in and outside King County.
• Ability to lift 30-pound boxes over one's head.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information in a culturally appropriate, consistently respectful, and non-judgmental manner to a wide variety of audiences including people who may be drug impaired, mentally ill and/or angry.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Experience resolving conflicts and defusing aggressive and/or violent clients.
• Demonstrated skill in delivering harm reduction interventions to people who use drugs.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, with supervisor, co-workers, health care providers, and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently following established protocols and policies and work effectively as a member of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to carry out assignments and responsibilities reliably in a thorough, accurate, and timely manner.

Supplemental information

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Salyse Duckworth at sduckworth@kingcountygov.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Who May Apply

Internal and external qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

(Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx-la=en
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CLA language and KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
• If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Union Membership

This position is represented by the PROTEC17 labor union.

Contact

If you have questions or would like more information about the recruitment process, please contact Salyse Duckworth, HR Analyst at sduckworth@kingcounty.gov